St. Stephen’s team members were hard at work from June to August, transforming campus spaces into a more beautiful, comfortable and energy-wise environment.

While students and faculty were away for the summer, St. Stephen’s maintenance, landscaping and custodial teams were hard at work on several projects across campus. Whether it's an easier climb to the concession stand, cooler air in the library or sparkling bathroom tile in the dorms, the community can see and feel the results of this recent refresh at many points on The Hill and beyond.

Major building exterior achievements include Gunn Hall’s beautiful new deck and replacing the roof and side panels of Helm Fine Arts Center. 

Completing a long-awaited milestone, the final two HVAC units were installed in Becker Library. Brewster Hall also received a new air conditioning unit. Coupled with window replacements in Towner House, the Tennis Center and two residences, these new, more efficient units significantly advance campus energy goals.

Safety infrastructure improvements included transitioning fire alarms to cellular networks.

“Cellular communication provides a more reliable option,” Maintenance Administrative Assistant Kayla Pruitt explained. “Cellular dialers also allow emergency signals to be transmitted more quickly than traditional phone lines and cannot be disabled simply by physically cutting the wires.”

Residential buildings received a modern facelift. All bathrooms in Towner West were upgraded with new tile, top-to-bottom paint and refinished countertops. New mattresses and furniture refreshed Wycliff-Freeman House. In several dorms, energy-efficient curtains replaced blinds to help block summer heat. The roof and soffits of Gregg Houses A and B were improved. A new roof and gutters were installed on Residence 1. Repairs ensured the outdoor residential pool filter is in working order to keep the residential community cool during the late-summer heat. 

Facilitating numerous summer residential transitions was another major undertaking. “When a residence becomes vacant, we address appliances, fixtures, plumbing, tile work, paint, flooring and pest control treatments before having the residence thoroughly 'white-glove' cleaned,” Pruitt noted.

The dining hall’s Spivey Schenk meeting room was updated with brighter paint and new furniture, while the College Counseling office got a fresh coat of paint, too. St. Stephen’s custodial teams also resurfaced floors throughout all campus buildings. 

On the athletics side of campus, fields received new sand beds and the Tennis Center’s wood siding was replaced. A new footpath constructed between the concession stand and the tennis courts turned an informal trail into a proper walkway.

Contractors also completed extensive tree trimming, the custodial team soft-washed all windows and limestone exteriors, and new stairs between the Welcome Center and guard house were installed. Fire lanes were power-washed and re-striped to improve their visibility. 

These upgrades were achieved by teams of some 13 maintenance personnel and eight to 11 custodial members working through the summer heat in concert with several specialists and contractors. 

The Annual Fund helps support operational needs like these every year. Your generosity strengthens St. Stephen’s resources and our ability to invest in campus projects each year.